U Boat Pens France

This Forum is the main messageboard to discuss all things Claret and Blue and beyond
Post Reply
enduroclaret
Posts: 125
Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
Been Liked: 92 times
Has Liked: 32 times

U Boat Pens France

Post by enduroclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 7:01 am

Me and a buddy are travelling down through France on motorcycles next month. Neither of us have visited any of the U Boat Pens.
We are crossing Portsmouth-Caen. I’ve been busy on Google, but I’m still unsure which of the U Boat Pen sites are the best to visit.
Anyone got any advice?
We’d like something with a visitor centre/museum/cafe.
Cheers

winsomeyen
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:29 am
Been Liked: 111 times
Has Liked: 404 times
Location: brittany France

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by winsomeyen » Tue May 30, 2023 7:18 am

We live in Brittany and have visited the u boat pens at Lorient,the site is well signposted and has a visitor centre /museum and a cafe/bar.
I believe the pen at St Nazaire is being used by the French navy and access is not available,but check as things may have changed.

winsomeyen
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:29 am
Been Liked: 111 times
Has Liked: 404 times
Location: brittany France

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by winsomeyen » Tue May 30, 2023 7:21 am

As you are arriving at Caen have you considered seeing the landing beaches in Normandy ?

enduroclaret
Posts: 125
Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
Been Liked: 92 times
Has Liked: 32 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by enduroclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 7:26 am

Thanks winsomeyen, Lorient it is.
We’re heading down south to visit a buddy…..D day beaches on the way back.
This user liked this post: winsomeyen

ebby
Posts: 330
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:21 am
Been Liked: 60 times
Has Liked: 259 times
Location: Perth Australia

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by ebby » Tue May 30, 2023 7:44 am

If you are visiting the Normandy Beaches the best place to visit from is Bayeux. Excellent military museum in the town and pretty central for the five beaches. The museum in Caen is poor.
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

Claret Till I Die
Posts: 2080
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2015 8:31 am
Been Liked: 1133 times
Has Liked: 1607 times
Location: Worsthorne

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Claret Till I Die » Tue May 30, 2023 7:48 am

I'd recommend a stop at Ranville to look around Pegasus Bridge & the museum on your way back. Probably only 20 mins outside Caen
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

Croydon Claret
Posts: 4092
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2016 4:03 pm
Been Liked: 1138 times
Has Liked: 756 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Croydon Claret » Tue May 30, 2023 9:16 am

Don't miss the Easy Company memorial, it's just a short distance from Utah beach

https://www.normandywarguide.com/place/ ... e-memorial

https://g.co/kgs/bAb2Ro
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

cbx750
Posts: 434
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:52 pm
Been Liked: 258 times
Has Liked: 372 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by cbx750 » Tue May 30, 2023 9:27 am

Have you driven in France before? If you are not near a town on Saturday afternoon make sure you fill with petrol, when we rode there many of the petrol stations out in the sticks closed Saturday at 5 or 6 PM and did not open till Monday lunch time.

Boss Hogg
Posts: 3294
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2020 10:34 am
Been Liked: 846 times
Has Liked: 1090 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Boss Hogg » Tue May 30, 2023 9:29 am

Know this area fairly well. U Boat pens are at Lorient.
I’d recommend the drive through St Mere l’ Eglise through to Utah beach on the way back and further across the gun batteries at Longues sur Mer.
These 2 users liked this post: winsomeyen enduroclaret

Dark Cloud
Posts: 6586
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:03 am
Been Liked: 1981 times
Has Liked: 3299 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Dark Cloud » Tue May 30, 2023 9:42 am

I saw the ones at St Nazaire many years ago and they were extremely interesting, but may not be accessible any more as someone posted above.

IWOODLOVETT
Posts: 1255
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:23 am
Been Liked: 495 times
Has Liked: 219 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by IWOODLOVETT » Tue May 30, 2023 9:42 am

How far down are you going?
If you’re anywhere near Limoges (west central France) you should visit Oradour-sur-Glane.

Look it up on Wikipedia and you’ll understand why.
This user liked this post: Dark Cloud

Dark Cloud
Posts: 6586
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:03 am
Been Liked: 1981 times
Has Liked: 3299 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Dark Cloud » Tue May 30, 2023 9:47 am

IWOODLOVETT wrote:
Tue May 30, 2023 9:42 am
How far down are you going?
If you’re anywhere near Limoges (west central France) you should visit Oradour-sur-Glane.

Look it up on Wikipedia and you’ll understand why.
Definitely! Extremely eerie place, but absolutely fascinating (if that's the right word?) and also very moving.

roperclaret
Posts: 731
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2022 10:18 pm
Been Liked: 329 times
Has Liked: 37 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by roperclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 9:47 am

Don’t forget to take in the Palais Benedictine in Fecamp

enduroclaret
Posts: 125
Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
Been Liked: 92 times
Has Liked: 32 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by enduroclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 10:11 am

Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions, much appreciated.
My bike has a range of about 150 miles, so I’ll top up as often as I can. I’ve had fuel anxiety in France before!
I’ve been to Oradour-Sur-Glane before, but my riding companion hasn’t, so we’ll visit.
We’re keeping to small roads, travelling light, so not camping, the bikes are pretty lightweight.
On the outward leg We’ll head South West out of Caen to Lorient, then South East to Payrac (about 100 miles south of Limoges) we’ll do a couple of overnight stops.
We’re stopping at a friend’s at Payrac and riding the local trails for a couple of days.
On the return leg we’ll head pretty much due North taking in Oradour. Two overnight stops, we can have a day at the Normandy Beaches as the ferry isn’t until 22:45.
So any recommendations about accommodation of things to see is much appreciated.

Bosscat
Posts: 25361
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8426 times
Has Liked: 18095 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Bosscat » Tue May 30, 2023 10:16 am

Another shout for Lorient for sub pens... Arromanche is a good visit for the D Day Beaches and also The Glider landings at "Pegasus Bridge"

Bayeaux is a good day out too
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

Lancasterclaret
Posts: 23343
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:09 pm
Been Liked: 8058 times
Has Liked: 4714 times
Location: Riding the galactic winds in my X-wing

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Lancasterclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 10:18 am

enduroclaret wrote:
Tue May 30, 2023 10:11 am
Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions, much appreciated.
My bike has a range of about 150 miles, so I’ll top up as often as I can. I’ve had fuel anxiety in France before!
I’ve been to Oradour-Sur-Glane before, but my riding companion hasn’t, so we’ll visit.
We’re keeping to small roads, travelling light, so not camping, the bikes are pretty lightweight.
On the outward leg We’ll head South West out of Caen to Lorient, then South East to Payrac (about 100 miles south of Limoges) we’ll do a couple of overnight stops.
We’re stopping at a friend’s at Payrac and riding the local trails for a couple of days.
On the return leg we’ll head pretty much due North taking in Oradour. Two overnight stops, we can have a day at the Normandy Beaches as the ferry isn’t until 22:45.
So any recommendations about accommodation of things to see is much appreciated.
Not WWII related, but you have to see the Bayeux Tapestry

enduroclaret
Posts: 125
Joined: Sun May 08, 2016 3:17 pm
Been Liked: 92 times
Has Liked: 32 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by enduroclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 10:35 am

Yes, I’ve seen the Bayeux Tapestry as a 7 year old……it’s time for another visit.

Owdsyker
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2018 1:06 pm
Been Liked: 11 times
Has Liked: 2 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Owdsyker » Tue May 30, 2023 10:41 am

I worked in St.Nazaire for a couple of years and when friends and family visited a trip to see the U-boat bunkers was a must do and well worth a visit. They did a tour of a submarine, not a U boat but actually a stripped out French nuclear sub from the early sixties, very claustrophobic. You can also take a virtual trip on the first cruise liner to sail from St.Nazaire to New York which is well worth doing.
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

Bosscat
Posts: 25361
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:51 am
Been Liked: 8426 times
Has Liked: 18095 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Bosscat » Tue May 30, 2023 10:43 am

enduroclaret wrote:
Tue May 30, 2023 10:35 am
Yes, I’ve seen the Bayeux Tapestry as a 7 year old……it’s time for another visit.
If you have time St Mer Eglise Church and The Omaha Beach Rangers Museum at Pointe_du_Hoc

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... if6u4ceSXW
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

Lancasterclaret
Posts: 23343
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:09 pm
Been Liked: 8058 times
Has Liked: 4714 times
Location: Riding the galactic winds in my X-wing

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by Lancasterclaret » Tue May 30, 2023 10:43 am

Years since I've been, but I remember La Rochelle being worth a visit for the castle and walls
This user liked this post: enduroclaret

IWOODLOVETT
Posts: 1255
Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:23 am
Been Liked: 495 times
Has Liked: 219 times

Re: U Boat Pens France

Post by IWOODLOVETT » Tue May 30, 2023 11:27 am

There’s a handy camp site near Calais and you can avoid the crush for the ferries by using the regular cross-channel rib service. Book early to avoid disappointment. 😉
These 2 users liked this post: Bosscat enduroclaret

Post Reply